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Air defense against ultralights?

08-14-2008, 12:49 PM

The renaissance festival is starting in my area, and every year we have a problem with ultralights buzzing the festival in flocks of three to five. They're too small to hit with shoulder launched aa missiles, AA artillery is too modern for fest, and we can't get high enough elevation on our cannons or ballista. Can I get some suggestions on how to deal with this flying menace? the wackier the better.

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Comment

Several years ago we were clearing a landing zone for one of the area medical helicopters. The flight medic and pilots went into the hospital to package the patient. While they were in there a damned ultralight came buzzing in. He was circling the LZ and grinning and waving. I notified the pilot via radio and man was he pissed. I ended up calling the county PD. the last I saw the ultralight it was heading out towards the county with a police cruiser following.

Comment

If they're low enough, you could always try a high-pressure water jet. Even if it didn't knock them out of the sky, it would still give 'em a shock!

Or, a variation on Tybalt's Zeppelin suggestion: Have lots of balloons (helium or small hot-air balloons), with ropes anchoring them to the ground. Make sure there's plenty of slack, and when an ultralight passes by, release it. Ultralight hits rope hanging from balloon, say goodbye to your wings.

Edit: Darn, Sarcoma beat me to it.

Last edited by westyfield; 08-20-2008, 08:34 AM.
Reason: Too many o's in to.